Robert Francis Prevost has made history by becoming the first pope from the United States. The 69-year-old Chicago native was elected following the death of Pope Francis, adopting the name Leo XIV. Known for his deep pastoral experience and dedication to the Church’s global mission, Prevost brings a unique blend of missionary service and Vatican leadership to the papacy.
Prevost’s work in Peru as a missionary and later as Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo earned him a reputation as a humble leader with a heart for the Church’s “peripheries”—areas far from the traditional centres of power that were prioritised by Pope Francis. In 2023, Prevost was appointed head of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key Vatican department responsible for advising on bishop appointments. That same year, he was elevated to cardinal.
The Dicastery role offered him a front-row seat to Church governance and introduced him to key decision-makers within the Curia. His leadership style—marked by quiet diplomacy and theological grounding—quickly made him a standout among American cardinals.
Vatican observers long saw him as a strong papal contender. Italian newspaper La Repubblica described him as “the least American of the Americans” for his measured, pastoral demeanour.
Bridge-Builder Between Cultures and Church Ideologies
Prevost’s global perspective and fluency in Spanish, among other languages, have helped him build bridges across regions and ideologies. His appointment as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America further signalled his commitment to the Church’s global reach.
His background in canon law has also been welcomed by more conservative factions within the Church who hope to see a renewed focus on theology. His moderate approach and ability to navigate the complexities of Church bureaucracy have made him an influential figure in both pastoral and administrative realms.
“We can’t stop, we can’t turn back,” Pope Leo XIV said in a recent interview with Vatican News. “We have to see how the Holy Spirit wants the Church to be today and tomorrow, because today’s world, in which the Church lives, is not the same as the world of ten or 20 years ago.”
From Chicago to the Vatican: A Life of Service
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Prevost began his religious journey as a novice in the Order of St. Augustine. He graduated from Villanova University with a degree in mathematics before earning a master’s in divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He later obtained a doctorate in canon law in Rome.
In 1985, he began a decade-long mission in Peru that would come to define much of his life. After returning to the U.S. in 1999, Prevost served as provincial prior of the Augustinians in the Midwest and eventually led the order globally as prior general.
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, Peru, marking his return to the country that had shaped much of his ministry. Nearly a decade later, his 2023 appointment to the Dicastery for Bishops came amid a Vatican shake-up, replacing Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who resigned following allegations that were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Now, as Pope Leo XIV, Prevost faces the task of leading the Catholic Church through a time of rapid change, carrying forward Pope Francis’s vision while bringing his own global experience and quiet strength to the world stage.
Why you can trust SurgeZirc UK. Learn more about our editorial standards.
